TCC Helped Dramatic Health Turnaround

Between undergoing a total hysterectomy as a treatment for cancer in 2011, and suffering severe congestive heart failure in May 2012, I began T’ai Chi Chih classes in February 2012. My doctors were amazed at my eventual recovery, and I credit TCC for the dramatic turnaround.

After the hysterectomy, it was taking me a while to get back on my feet. My sister suggested I try TCC, which she said was like a slow, moving meditation and not a high-impact workout. I was unable to stand, and so sat, through the first few classes with teacher Judy George. Next I got DVDs of Justin Stone and Pam Towne doing TCC and practiced every morning, but found it difficult to follow along. Creativity was among the things Justin said TCC could improve, however, so as an artist, I used what I know. Standing in front of a mirror, I did each movement and drew it on paper. Then, being a fabric artist, I created three scarves showing the movements: one for my sister Jeanette, one for Judy (to whom I owe everything), and one for myself. I lay my scarf on the ground in front of me to help remember the movements and direct my feet.

Gradually, my body started getting stronger and my blood pressure was going down. Then in May 2012 I had a relapse in health. My heart was failing and I was admitted to intensive cardiac care for seven days. I experienced atrial flutter, my ventricular rate plunged from 60 to 24, I had no energy, I suffered a fluid overload in my lungs because of a pleural effusion, and my blood pressure increased. I was in congestive heart failure.

By the fifth day in intensive care, the doctors and other caregivers were turning my condition around. They drained 18 liters of fluid from me and I lost 45 pounds. On the sixth day they treated me with cardioversion, an electrical shock to the chest, and my atrial flutter stopped. Next I suffered a second-degree, Type 2 heart block, however, a disruption of electrical signals in the heart. On day seven I had surgery to put in a pacemaker.

When I awoke I felt more energetic than I had in a long time. That evening I was transferred to a heart-monitoring unit and stayed for three days, and during that time my kidneys shut down. Yet in the mornings, at 6 am when caregivers arrived to draw blood, I did TCC in bed.

Before I was admitted to the hospital, I was on oxygen and simply went from chair to chair or rode a scooter to get around. After the hospital stay, my energy level was higher but my muscles just were not there. To aid recovery, I attended cardiac rehabilitation for six weeks, three days a week, and two days a week did TCC. After rehab was completed, I resumed practicing TCC every morning.

Now, in mid-September, my doctors are amazed. My atrial flutter has been gone for four weeks and I wear oxygen only when I work out. They say I have to lose more weight to decrease the work of my heart and kidneys; so far I’ve lost 65 pounds. My energy is up and blood pressure down. My heart rate is 60 and controlled by the pacemaker. I’ve returned to teaching kids how to compete in American Kennel Club junior competitions and my business has enough orders to keep me busy.

My life has returned and I credit it to TCC, Justin and Judy. Remember the scarves I mentioned making? I received permission to use the TCC registered trademark and now make TCC scarves that Judy designed. They are offered online (taichichih.org/conference_2013/) and we are donating part of the profits to the 2013 TCC conference in Minnesota. I’ve received so much from TCC, including many friends, and look forward to giving back by helping the conference and someday becoming a TCC teacher.

Today I finished another TCC fabric art piece, but that’s another story that will have to wait until maybe next year.